In a move that underscores how CA Rep. Mike Honda is gearing up for a 2014 re-election challenge, word comes today that he’s hired on a full campaign team — including Michael Terris, the political consultant who previously advised 20-term Rep. Pete Stark.

Also on hand for Honda: pollster Celinda Lake.

First, here’s Honda’s just-published campaign’s release outlining his whole 2014 campaign team — 20 months before the election:*Campaign Management & Media Consulting: Terris, Barnes & Walters. In 2012, TBW ran the re-election campaign of Representative Mike Thompson, directed State Senator Jim Beall’s hard fought victory in the South Bay and State Senator Bill Monning’s convincing win in southern Santa Clara County and the Central Coast. In 2012, TBW also created the direct mail for Representative Lois Capps’ tough race. Past campaigns include managing the late Representative Tom Lantos’ successful re-election campaigns in 2004 and 2006. The Honda team will be led by partner Barry Barnes.*Polling: Lake Research Partners. The firm, founded by Celinda Lake, polled for Representative Jerry McNerney in all four of his elections, newly elected Representative Raul Ruiz (who upset Mary Bono Mack), Gavin Newsom’s mayoral campaigns, and numerous local officials and measures in the South Bay and East Bay. They also advise Democratic Leader Pelosi. Their team will be led by Bay Area-based partner David Mermin.*Communications & Social Media: Full Court Press Communications. They recently managed communications for California’s Proposition 35 – the most successful proposition in California history. They also developed social media campaigns for five winning hyperlocal races around the state. The team will be led by founder Dan Cohen and Sarah Hersh, former McNerney spokesperson.*Field Director: Lamar Heysteck will reprise his role as field director from Honda’s 2012 election to Congress from the 17th District.

Terris’s shop, San Francisco-based Terris Barnes & Walters has also had a hand in campaigns for Angela Alioto and Florida Gov. Bob Graham.
But more recenntly, it was among the string of consultants who had their hands full with the campaign of the combative Stark, a longtime Democratic lion in the East Bay who, at 80, was handily defeated by a 32-year-old Democratic upstart, Eric Swalwell, in the East Bay’s CD-15.

As we’ve reported before, some of the same Dem-vs.-Dem drama, demographics and dynamics could be at play in the case of Honda, 71. Especially since Ro Khanna, 35, the young former Obama Administration trade representative and a Silicon Valley star, is mulling a run against the Congressman in his tech-heavy South Bay district.
Khanna has $1.2 million in his warchest and support from some of the biggest names in Silicon Valley.
The race would pit a longtime, traditional, respected Democratic labor favorite and Japanese-American against an up and coming Democrat with tech saavy — big Silicon Valley ties, and backing of the Indo-American community, which has growing clout in the district.
And it would dramatize how California’s “top two” primary and redistricting is shaking things up.
That has already appeared to put Honda into re-election overdrive, rolling out big endorsements from President Barack Obama and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, among others, before he even has a formal opponent — and a full two years before the voters go to the polls.
With Terris on board, it’s clear Honda is preparing for battle — and this could be one of the big political dramas of 2014.